Less than a month after Mayo's historic win in the All-Ireland final, Croke Park hosted another significant event on Wednesday night—an exhilarating friendly between Manchester United and Leeds United.

As the new Premier League season approaches, this match provided fans with a chance to see their teams in action while enjoying the spectacle of a solar eclipse. With a thrilling atmosphere in front of an 82,300-capacity crowd, the game concluded with Manchester United triumphing 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Both clubs boast strong Irish connections, making this fourth friendly in eight years on Irish soil particularly fitting:

• George Best of Manchester United has long been a beloved figure in Ireland.
• Gary Kelly's jerseys were prominently displayed among the Leeds support.

The streets of Dublin buzzed with anticipation as fans discussed potential signings, hoping for a successful season ahead. This match marked a notable return to Croke Park for football, ending a nine-year wait and being the first friendly between two English teams there, hinting it may not be the last.

The match started energetically, with Joshua Zirkzee giving Manchester United the lead in just 16 minutes. The lively crowd cheered as Brenden Aaronson equalized for Leeds against the run of play. Despite a lack of scoring opportunities in the second half, the atmosphere remained electric, especially with the introduction of players like Bruno Fernandes and summer signing Youri Tielemans.

Substitute Dermot Mee, who previously played for Northern Ireland at the underage level, also made a memorable contribution to the victory when he came on as a second-half substitute.